Automatic typewriter



1 March 31, 1953 c. WITTENMYER 2,633,222

AUTOMATIC TYPEWRITER Filed Nov. 16, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR. CARLO S WITTENMYER ATTORNEYS March 31, 1953 c. WITTENMYER 2,633,222

AUTOMATIC TYPEWRITER Filed Nov. 16, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR.

CARLO S WITTENMYER ATTOR NEYS Patented Mar. 31, 1953 UNITED STATES PA'rsa'r orsics AUTOMATIC TYPEWRITER Carlos Wittenmyer, Lebanon, Ohio Application November 16, 1950, Serial No. 195,951

The present invention relates to automatic typewriters and more specifically to means for causing the automatic typing of a previously set up sequence of characters.

In my previous U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,493,709, issued January 3, 1950, on Automatic Typewriter, there is described and claimed a typewriter in which some or all of the keys are arranged to be actuated by solenoids. It is further arranged so that potential circuits through certain of such solenoids are set up by the number wheels of a time clock or other timing or dating device or the number wheels of a calculating machine. Further, when such potential circuits are set up, they are completed in sequence by means of a sequence switch means actuated itself by the carriage of the machine.

The present invention relates to an improved means for the completion of such sequence of potential circuits.

Among the objects of the invention is a circuit completing means which is actuatable independently of the typewriter itself.

Another object is a multiple sequence switch, adapted to complete such potential circuits, which is actuated by its individual motor.

Still other objects will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a diagrammatic view illustrating how the circuit completing means is connected to the number wheels of a dating, timing or calculating machine.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of several keys of an electrically operated typewriter with their type bars and actuating means.

Fig. 3 is a view showing a number wheel of a calculating machine including means for selecting a circuit therethrough.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the switch unit.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same as if from the bottom of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the same as from the left of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a section on line 'l--'! of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram of the unit.

In Fig. 2 there is illustrated a portion of the mechanism of an electric typewriter showing the platen at H! on a suitable carriage IOA. Several typebars are shown at H, and these are actuated by causing the cams HA to contact a rotating roller NB. The cams IIA are moved into contact with the roller IIB by the key bars 12 which may themselves be actuated manually from keys 12A or by solenoids !3, each of the key bars being provided with its individual solenoid. '1

2 Claims. (Cl. 197-19) In Fig. 1 there is diagrammatically illustrated a number of the solenoids 13 of the automatic typewriter, a row of number wheels !5 of a suitable time indicator or clock, or of a calculating machine, the sequence switching means indicated as a whole at it, and circuits therefor. As this figure indicates, the sequence switching means comprises a disc 5E3, carrying a plurality of contact buttons EEC arranged circularly, and a contact finger ERA mounted upon a sleeve 5! carried by but insulated from a shaft 503. When the shaft is rotated, the finger ERA will, of course, pass over and contact the buttons BIC in sequence.

The potential circuits will be set up by the relative rotation of wheels USA and discs l5, each wheel IBA carrying a single line contact and each adjacent disc l5 carrying a plurality of contacts, the number corresponding to the number of corresponding characters on the wheel. Each of the plurality of contacts will be connected with the solenoid of the typewriter key corresponding thereto. When, through this relative rotation, the several potential circuits have been arranged or set up, the wheels ISA and discs l5 will be moved into contact and a switch such as is indicated at ll will be closed. This immediately energizes finger MA and as soon as it touches the first button 510, energizes the corresponding solenoid I3 to actuate the first key in the sequence. In the meantime the shaft B has been started to rotate, so that all of the buttons 510 are energized in sequence and the several characters are printed by the type bars I I.

The means for rotating the shaft 593 is illustrated in Figs. 4 to 8 and is shown to be a suitable electric motor 50 provided with a gear reduction assembly 50A, the slow speed power take off shaft of which is shown at 50B as extending through the assembly 56A and projecting from both sides thereof. On one end of shaft 503 and insulated therefrom is a conducting sleeve 5! carrying a radially extending spring finger 51A, while opposite the shaft end and concentric therewith is an insulating disc 51B carrying near its edge a plurality of contacts SIC at short intervals, the disc and contacts being so supported and arranged that the spring finger 51A will pass over and touch each of the contacts BIC as the shaft 50B is rotated. The series of contacts BIC will be evenly spaced but insufiicient in number to complete a circle, there being a gap 5ID at the end of the series.

On the other end of the shaft 503 is mounted a cam 52 which is for the greater portion of its circumference circular but is provided with a short lower portion 52A which is arranged to be opposite the gap 5|D between contacts 5IC.

Adapted to coact with cam 52 is a roller 52B carried on an arm 52C forming part of and adapted to actuate a switch 53, and to close the switch when the roller 52B is on the high portion of the cam and to open the switch when the low portion reaches the roller 523.

At the motor end of the assembly 55-55A, the motor shaft 55 projects sufiiciently to provide a mounting for a small disc or wheel 5 3A adapted to cooperate with a brake 55, preferably provided with a suitable brake surface material 55A, pivoted at 5513 and biased to braking position by means of a light spring 55C.

Mounted adjacent the brake 55 is a solenoid 55 provided with a suitable core55A in alignment with the brake 55 in its swinging movement about pivot 553. The core 55A will be bimetallic with a nonmagnetic extension projecting toward the brake 55, its'magnetic portion at the other end being sufficiently short so that when the solenoid is not energized; the core will be in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6. Energization of the solenoid will then cause the core to move toward the brake 55 and move the latter to the dotted line position and thereby free the disc 55A.

Current is led to the sleeve 5! by means of a flexible arm brush. I55 mounted on the motor supporting base and connected to a suitable currentsource as described below.

In arranging the circuit for the motor 55, it should be noted that the finger 59A should make only a single revolution and then stop before reaching the first button 5E0 in the sequence.

Such a circuit or wiring, diagram is shown in Fig. 8.. In this diagram, the current supply lines are shown at 60 with one line connected to the one side of switch 53. Fromthis. it goes to one side of the motor 55, the other side of which is connected to thereturn line. A starting circuit is shown at 6| with a suitableswitch 62.

When the switch 62 is closed, the motor 55 will begin to turn and since the cam 52 is carried by the takeofi shaftfrom the gear assembly 55A,

the switch 53 is immediately closed and themotor.

continues to run after switch 52 is opened until the roller 52B again reachesthe lowpart of the wheel IBA. The wheel ISA will also beprovided.

with a through conductor. 16B andpreferably a plurality of non-conducting. spacing or balancing pegs I60. Opposite the side face of. wheel ISA away from disc I5 will be asecond disc l8 ofcon-- ducting material, suitably insulated and cone nectedto a source ofzcurrent.

The three elements, IE, ISA. and I8 will be. so

mounted that discs l5-an'd. It? may, be movedto contact the conductor I63 and pegs IBC. When this is. done the current flow will of course be. from the disc l8, through conductor [6B to that.

contact on disc l5 with which. the-conductor: 16B

happens to be in register and thereby set up the;

potential circuit corresponding to such; contact;

The operation of the device seems quiterolovious;v When the-operator wishes to. causeitheautomatj io typing of, for example, the date as indicated by a suitable automatic calendar or clock, or to cause the typing of a number set up on a calculating machine adapted for the purpose, the wheels I5, ISA and iii are moved into contact and the switch 62 closed (Fig. 8). When this is done, the motor 50 starts and continues for a single revolution" of the shaft 503 passing over. and completing the circuits through each solenoid through which a potential circuit has been set up. These solenoids will then cause the typing in sequence of each of the characters.

It. is. of course obvious that as many contacts 5IC as desired may be provided, the number depending on the number of characters desired to beprinted.

I'claim:

1. In combination with an electric typewriter,

a register including rotatable indicia displaying.

wheels carrying electric circuit selecting means, and means for actuating in sequencethe typewriter keys corresponding to selected circuits, said latter means consisting of a plurality'of sole.-

noids, each arranged to actuate when energized.

one of the keys of said typewriter, meansincluding said circuit selecting means for potentially completing electrical circuits through selected ones of said solenoids, aplurality of stationary contacts included in said circuits, said contacts,

being mounted, in a circular arrangement, a rotatable shaft mounted with its axis normal to. said circle of stationary contacts and carrying a live contact adapted to coact with said stationary contacts to complete. said potential circuits,

means for rotating said shaft whereby. to effect such completion in sequence, and means for limiting such rotation to a single revolution.

2..In combination with an electric typewriter,

a register including rotatable indicia displaying wheels carrying electric circuit selecting means,-

and means for actuating in sequence the typewriter keys corresponding to selected circuits,

said latter means consisting of a plurality of sole-- noids, each arranged to actuate when energized one of the'keys of said typewritenmeans includ-- ing said circuit selecting. means for potentially completing electrical circuits through selected ones of said solenoids, a. pluralityof stationary contacts included in said circuits, said contacts:

being mounted in a circular arrangement, a.ro':--

tatable shaft mounted with its axis normaltosaid:

circle of stationary'contacts:and carrying a live contact adapted tocoact with said stationary contacts to complete said potential circuits, means for rotating'said shaftwhereby to effect such completion in sequence, braking means for. said shaft, means for releasing; sai'd braking REFERENCES; CITED The followingreferences; are of record inthe file of'this patent? UNITED STATES. PATENTS Number Name Date 1,275,657 Bullock Aug; 13, 1918 2,252,825. Witherell Aug; 19, 194i FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date;

353,428 Great Britain of I93]; 

